Page 22 of Taken By the Blood God

If she only knew that I had fangs like a vampire, too.

“Yes.”

“I’m guessing not just any blood will do when you’re this weak?”

“No, it won’t.”

Minerva sighed, clasping her hands in front of her and looking down at them. She didn’t speak, and I sensed she was thinking. For once, I managed to keep my mouth shut instead of making a situation worse. Finally, she lifted her head and looked at me, squaring her shoulders like she was preparing to fight. I wondered if that’s what she thought we were about to do.

“If drinking my blood will help you recover faster or make you stronger, I’m willing to make a donation.” She pointed a finger at me. “But only this once. I will not do this every time you overextend yourself, so be careful with how you cast your magic. Am I understood?”

“I understand.”

“And once we’re done with this, you need to tell me how to access whatever magic I’ll need to use to free your brother because I have no idea how to do that. I was barely conscious when Ally freed you.”

I stared at her in confusion. “Access your magic? What are you talking about?”

“The powers I have as a Conduit. I’ve never used them before, so I’ll need you to guide me through that.”

“But you use them all the time,” I replied.

It was Minerva’s turn to look confused. “I do?”

“Yes. Can’t you tell?”

She shrugged. “My magic feels the same to me as it always has. I can sense the breadth and the depth of it, but there are limits. From what little you’ve told me, I shouldn’t have limits if I’m channeling the power of a goddess.”

“I wouldn’t say you don’t have limits,” I answered. “More like those limits are very difficult to reach. Or you’d have to be severely weakened.”

“Either way, I’m certain the limits I sense now are much less than those of a goddess.”

I shook my head. “Those aren’t real. They’re your own creation.”

“I think I would know if I put limits on myself,” Minerva argued, crossing her arms over her chest.

I wanted to continue the conversation, but my head was beginning to swim. “If you want to continue this discussion with me awake and not drooling on the mattress, I’ll need to drink some of your blood.”

She winced at my words.

“You don’t have to do this, Minerva,” I continued. “Sleep and rest will help, and I’ll be back up tomorrow afternoon at the latest.”

“I just realized I didn’t ask you how much blood you needed to take,” she said, waving a hand at me. “And the idea freaked me out a little bit.”

“I shouldn’t need more than a few mouthfuls.”

“How many is a few?” she asked. Her eyes narrowed as she looked down at me.

“Between three and five. No more than five.”

She cocked her head to the side and considered me, wrapping both arms around herself. I hated the unsure expression on her face, but I wasn’t going to push her either way on this. It had to completely be her decision. No influence from me either way.

“Fine. Should I get a cup and a knife?” she asked.

“Why would I need a knife?”

Minerva threw her hands in the air. “Are we even speaking the same language right now? I feel like we’re not because every time I ask you a question, you act like you have no idea why.”

“That’s because I have no idea why I would need a knife,” I retorted.

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